Barclays Premiership
Vicarage Road
Tuesday, December 26, 2006, 5.30pm
Watford-
Arsenal-
By Richard Clarke
While many would argue that Arsenal supply more than their share of the Premiership’s artwork, Watford’s broad brushstrokes should not be easily dismissed.
Adrian Boothroyd’s side are certainly more direct and their style less vaunted but their competitive spirit is there for all to see.
Arsène Wenger’s side travel to Vicarage Road on Boxing Day with the Frenchman well aware of what lies in wait. You could conduct an adequate scouting mission by peering over the hedge that divides their training grounds had it not grown so high last summer. And, despite the clash of cultures, the Arsenal manager respects the work being done by his opposite number.
“Aidy Boothroyd has a belief that they will get out of trouble,” said Wenger. “He does that well and in a convincing way.
“I do admire them because they look like they are not affected by the fact that they don’t win. You need to be strong to do that.
“They play with their style and they do it well. They were dangerous against us so it will be important to deal well with the type of game they give us. But we have recently improved in this area.
“I expect them to be very direct. They will go physical and probably with the long ball.
“It will be important to go there prepared mentally. However also we must not forget to dictate our own style. So we will have to put the ball down and play our game - to do that you have to be prepared.”
Watford have won once in the Premiership and have barely been out of the bottom three all season. In addition they will have to cope without leading striker Marlon King for the remainder of this campaign. Ashley Young is probably their brightest talent. The 21-year-old winger is Watford’s top scorer with three goals. In previous press conferences, Wenger has said he is well aware of Young but also added he is not interested in signing him.
The Arsenal manager did promise “one or two” changes for the first of three fixtures concertinaed into the Christmas period. However Emmanuel Eboue (ankle) will not be back. William Gallas (thigh), Thierry Henry (hamstring) and Freddie Ljungberg (hamstring) are still some way from fitness.
“We have recently played well in every game,” said Wenger. “We have slowly put a run together. We have a big challenge now away from home but we can be inspired by what we have done.
“We just need to be consistent. We have the quality, we have the spirit and we have the desire. Those are good ingredients.
“Honestly I don’t feel Watford are down already. Sometimes when you come up every game in the Premier League is difficult to win.
“They have to put a run together now [to stay up],” added the Arsenal manager. “I just hope they start after they play us.”